The Return (Rainbow Quartz 2.0) | Steven Universe

The Return

The Sky Arena was aglow underneath the light of the setting sun.

        "Come on, Pearl, please! Just one more try!"

        Pearl sighed. "Steven, I think we have had enough training for one day. You're not ready yet."

        "Maybe . . . Maybe I just wasn't thinking the right stuff. Please!" He scrambled to his feet. "I think . . . This time I'll be ready! C'mon, Pearl — I know you really wanna be Rainbow Quartz again!"

        Pearl stopped, and Steven saw his opportunity. "Pleeeaaasee! They'll be amazing! I promise." He put on his most cajoling tone. "Your fusions are always amazing."

        Pearl turned, ready to scold him. But once she locked onto those soft brown eyes, she could see that in his mind at least, he was telling the truth.

        She felt a warmth bloom in her chest. All she had ever wanted was for Rose to need her as much as she needed Rose — and once she had gone, Pearl had vowed to prove herself to her son; in the hopes that maybe — just maybe — Rose could see her . . . and she would be proud of her.

        Gazing at Steven's open face, she knew that she didn't need her approval anymore. She had earned Steven's, and his respect, love and dependency along with it — which, she knew, was more than Rose could ever give her. And, for the first time, she felt just fine with that.

        She sighed again, trying to look annoyed. She couldn't quite pull it off. "Okay. Just one more time."

        Steven's face lit up. "Woohoo!" He ran forward and smacked into her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!"

        Pearl let out a soft laugh. She couldn't help tousling his bouncy hair. "Okay, okay. Come on, now."

        Steven let go of her and ran back to his place, extending an arm and sweeping into a low bow, grinning.

        Pearl mirrored his stance, a small smile on her face. Her gem lit up, bathing her face in a pale white light.

        The two straightened, locking eyes, and Pearl spun delicately across to Steven as he met her at the midpoint. Setting her hands on his shoulders, Pearl stepped behind him and clasped his hand, twirling his body once (much to Steven's enjoyment, as he closed his eyes and laughed). Next, Steven stepped to the side and held out his hands. Pearl gracefully leapt into them and without much effort Steven lifted her slender body above his head, turning the two of them around and then gently setting Pearl on her feet.

        The arena was silent.

        Pearl sighed, disappointed. She turned to Steven, about to dismiss him for the day, but stopped when she saw something flash across his face. Suddenly, without warning, Steven then jumped forward and flung his arms around her, squeezing her tight.

        The effect was instantaneous.

        The familiar bright glow radiated from Steven's gem and washed up and over their bodies, his pink light mixing with Pearl's white glow — the combined energy expanded, incandescent, as their forms dutifully combined—

        Their two eyes blinked open. And then, uncertainly, the other two.

        They gazed down at their curvy body (much like Stevonnie's, they thought absent-mindedly), and at the star sported on Steven's shirt. Hints of Pearl's outfit could be seen poking out from under the shirt, and a blue ribbon wound around their torso, loose ends trailing down past their navel, where their second gem was in full view. They still wore Steven's shorts and Pearl's leotard stretching out from underneath, but whereas Pearl's socks reached to their knees, their feet were bare — pink sandals were lying discarded beside them.